Exhibitors: Get More Traffic To Your Booth With These Tips

Investing the time and money to exhibit at a conference is a big commitment, and you want to get a good return on that investment, right? So doing everything you can to maximise the number and quality of people you engage with during the event makes sense.

Here, you’ll find our top ideas for building buzz, maximising foot traffic and creating an impact with your visitors.

Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash

Be Social

Conference time is busy, and delegates are trying to squeeze as much from the experience as possible. Keeping them informed in the lead-up to the event ensures you’ll make the list of professionals they want to connect with. And the best part is, it’s free!

Share social posts to announce that you’ll be at the conference and build some buzz.
Run a giveaway to increase your prospect list.
Help spread the word about the conference – more attendees are good for everyone.
Give people the opportunity to win a prize when they ‘check-in’ on social at your booth. Tie in with the conference hashtag for even more value.
Include something fun for your visitors to do, e.g. a fun photo wall that encourages visitors to share their booth pics on social.
Gamify the experience. Award points for different activities like checking-in on social or taking a pic at your booth and tagging you when they post. Give a prize for the most points earned during the conference.
Connect with your ideal prospects on social so that you can stay in contact with them quickly after the event.

Design For Impact

You’ve built the pre-event buzz and made lots of connections with great social. Now it’s time to get visitors to your booth.

The space above your booth is prime real estate when it comes to standing out. Be bold and grab attention before attendees even get to you with something eye-catching like a giant inflatable.
An interactive activity will help you be memorable. Try to bring an aspect of your brand or product to life for your booth visitors.
Host a giveaway at your booth. If you make it a valuable prize, you’ll attract more visitors and gather contact information from those that enter.
Give visitors to your booth a relaxing space to pause and take a break from the busy exhibition hall. Include a living plant wall or ceiling and comfortable furniture to sit on.
Use VR technology to showcase your product if it’s particularly complex or challenging to demonstrate in a booth environment.
Everyone’s busy, and we can’t always step away from work completely, even during a conference. Create a work-station for visitors to encourage them to spend more time at your booth.
Stand out with lighting that changes colour during the conference or create special effects to draw attention.

Photo by Katya Austin on Unsplash

Give Away Your Brand

Everyone loves free stuff and used strategically; it can help with brand recognition and retention. Put some thought into what you give out – make it useful, appropriate and sustainable, and it won’t end up in the landfill after the conference.

Offer delegates a respite in the form of branded beverages and snacks. Think small portable snacks and drinks so people can keep circulating if they choose.
Create branded merchandise that’s unexpected, practical and memorable. Think about your ideal prospect’s day-to-day and pinpoint items they’ll reach for over and over. Every time they use the thing you gave them, they’ll think of your brand and smile.

Pay attention to the way you build anticipation before the event, use social media well during the conference and design your booth to enhance the visitor experience. Nail these aspects, and you’re well on the way to making the most of your investment as a conference exhibitor.